Ovum Donation Expands Options for Infertile Couples

Infertile couples who fear they will never experience the joys of parenthood have the option of ovum donation through a program at Baylor College of Medicine.

"Fifty-two percent of our patients take home a baby, which is very encouraging for couples who have been unable to conceive," said Dr. Sandra A. Carson, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Baylor.

Ovum donation is a fertility choice for women who are unable to produce ova for conception, but are able to become pregnant. Donors are given drugs to stimulate the ovaries, and the donor and recipient cycles are synchronized. The extracted eggs are then transferred to the recipient, while the remaining embryos are cryopreserved for use in a second transfer, in case there is no pregnancy. The process of choosing a donor is completely anonymous - traits including blood type and ethnicity are matched.

To donate, participants must be between the ages of 21 and 30 and have had a successful pregnancy. Participants are first screened over the telephone and then undergo both medical and venereal disease testing, and a psychological evaluation where they answer a series of questions relating to family history and medical illnesses.

Ovum donation is not for everyone, however it is a recommended option for couples who want children but have been unable to conceive due to ovarian problems.

"This is a great opportunity for women to share their fertility with other women who do not have ovaries or who have ovaries that do not function," said Dr. Carson, also chief of the assisted reproductive technology program at Baylor.

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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